[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF ROBERT D. EVANS

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I welcome this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Robert D. Evans, who retired on February 28, after 35 years of 
distinguished service with the American Bar Association, including 
services as director of the ABA's Governmental Affairs Office.
  Born in Vermont, Bob received his B.A. from Yale University in 1966 
and his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1969. He began 
his legal career at the Chicago firm known today as Sachnoff & Weaver, 
practicing corporate and commercial law. When an opportunity to work on 
public policy issues arose, he joined the ABA Chicago staff in 1972, 
and soon found himself working in the ABA's Washington, DC, office. 
Since 1982, Bob has served as director of the Governmental Affairs 
Office, providing strong leadership on many issues, including judicial 
independence, tax reform, the PATRIOT Act, and numerous anticrime and 
antiterrorism bills. Perhaps what people will remember most is Bob's 
career-long effort to guarantee access to justice for all through the 
development and preservation of the Legal Services Corporation, which 
funds local legal aid programs to help low-income individuals and 
families deal with basic legal problems that affect day-to-day living.
  Bob is listed in ``Who's Who in America'' and ``Who's Who in American 
Law.'' He has received numerous awards and commendations for his 
dedicated and tireless work in seeking equal justice for America's 
poor, including recognition from the National Legal Aid and Defender 
Association and the National Clients Council.
  Bob has also made outstanding contributions to Washington-area 
communities. He has served Washington Grove, MD, as mayor and town 
council member, and currently sits on the Washington Grove Planning 
Commission. Bob has also chaired the Associations Division of the 
National Capital Area United Way Campaign, and has helped to raise 
millions of dollars for DC area charities to support those in need. He 
also was president of Project Northstar, a homeless children's tutoring 
program for homeless children in the District of Columbia.
  With his dedication to the rule of law, his professionalism, his 
expertise and his unfailing good humor, Bob has fulfilled the highest 
ideals and goals of the legal profession. He has improved the 
administration of justice, and brought greater access to legal 
representation and American justice for all persons, regardless of 
their economic or social condition. Bob will be greatly missed. I join 
his many colleagues and friends in wishing Bob, his wife Kathie, and 
their daughter Sarah much happiness in the years to come.

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